Apparatus for setting hollow rivets



Feb. 13, 1945.

T. A. REPPER APPARATUS FOR SETTING HOLLOW. RIVETS Filed Feb. .24, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1945. I REPPER 2,369,492

APPARATUS FOR SETTING HOLLOW RIVETS Filed Feb. 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jnvc nicm Theodore fl. Pepper,

' Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT 'orri'ca APPARATUS Fon $22 21 HOLLOW iuvn'rs Application February 24, 1943, Serial No. 476,960

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel implement for spinning hollow rivets into place.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simplified riveting procedure which enables the setting of hollow rivets into place quickly and expeditiously with uniformly good results.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool which is simple and rugged in design and which enables the setting of hollow rivets to be executed quickly and with certainty.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simplified tool for setting hollow rivets, which are accessible from only one end of the rivets, by a metal spinning operation resulting in a distortion, expansion or upsetting of the free ends of the rivets within controllable limits.

The present invention proceeds upon the principle of spinning the free end of a hollow rivet to obtain an enlargement thereof and the utilization of centrifugal force to place the operative spinning member of a tool for this purpose into position for the execution of the metal spinning operation, which member normally occupies an inactive position to permit the tool carrying the member to be inserted freely through the center of the hollow rivet in the course of introducing and withdrawing the tool from the field oi. action of the spinning member on the rivet. Preferably, the enlargement of the clinching portion 01- the rivet to an extent greater than the diameter of the rivet holes of the parts to be joined is executed simultaneously with a pressing action between the ends of the rivet, the extent of which is controllable to a line and accurate degree.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus preparatory to the execution of the riveting operation;

- Fig. 2 is a left end view of the tool support shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the tool support shown in Fig. 1; s

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view with certain parts in elevation oi. the riveting tool in position preparatory to the execution oi the riveting operation; and

Fig. 5 is a corresponding view of Fig. 4 showing the parts at the termination of the riveting operation. I

The present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 in its application to a portable riveting tool making use of a conventional electric hand drill in which the tool in accordance with the present invention is substituted for the drill. In the drawings, the parts to be joined, A and B, of any desired materials, are provided with suitable rivet holes in which is disposed the hollow rivet R having a shank of a diameter slightly less than the diameters of the rivet holes in members A and B and a head H. The object of the invention is to upset the free end of the rivet R against the member B from the side of the rivet remote from the free end. Accordingly, the invention comprehends the use of a mandrel member T which may be inserted in the chuck 20- of the electric hand drill, or which may be operated by any other driving means to cause the same to rotate at a substantially high speed, preferably at least 1000 R. P. M.

A slot I0 is provided near the free end of the mandrel T in which is pivotally mounted member II by pivot pin l2. Member ll may be formed of an alloy steel or any other sufliciently rugged material. A leaf spring 13 is shown anchored at one end in the tool with the free end thereoi fitting in a groove in the rear face of member ii to normally retain the member ll within the confines of the slot, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In such position, the spinning member Ii presents no hindrance to the passage of the tool through the center of the hollow rivet and the members cooperating therewith. Following the insertion of the mandrel with the spinning member beyond the end of the hollow rivet R, the energization of the electric motor M rotates the mandrelat ahigh speed and the centrifugal force of the rotation upon the member I I causes the same to be thrown out laterally from the tool against the force of the spring member 13 to bring member ll into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, rocking around the pivot pin l2. Thereupon, the member ll may coact with, the free end of the hollow rivet R to spin the same beyond the diameter of the rivet holes in the plates to be joined, A and B, into a conformation corresponding to the outline of the member II, as shown in Fig. 5. The cessation of the rotation of the tool, or a suilicient diminution of the speed thereof causes the return of the spinning member ll into the confines of the slot in when the tool is retracted axially from the spinning position, whereupon the tool is capable of withdrawal from the hollow rivet which is now expanded or upset at the end opposite the head H. The tool may then be subsequently inserted into another rivet for a similar operation.

In order to make possible the spinning oi the free ends of the rivets with rapidity and dispatch and uniformly good results, pressure is brought wbear nthe spinningmember l| simultaneouslywitlr the. rotary movement thereof and the drawings illustrate one-"manner of performing the dual operation simultaneously.

A bracket 2|, having semi-circular extensions at the upper end thereof fitting around the op-' posite sides of the end ofthe electric-motor M is clamped to the latter by bolts and nuts 22 and 2t. Arms 3| project from an lntermediateportlon of the bracket 2| to which is pivoted the midporber'therein. past the opposite end of the hollow rivet, means for rapidly rotating said mandrel to throw out said member laterally of the mandrel about the pivot mounting thereof by the "resulting centrifugal force, means to retract the mandrel during the .rapid rotation thereof and-to retainsaid headed end of the hollow rivet against retion of a manually operable member 24 by means of pivot pin 30. One endof member 24 is formed as a bifurcated extension 28 on which is fitted a backing slide 21 having an aperture 28- therethrough, through which passesthe tool T and supports the slide 21 thereby. The forward face of the backing slide has a concave recess there in 28 adapted for cooperation with the head H of the hollow rivet to thereby exert a suitable pressure on that end of the rivet. The opposite end of the member 24 is formed'as a hand grip 25 which is adapted to be grasped by an operator together with the lower end of bracket 2|. Normally the bracket 2| and the handle 25 are maintained in spaced position by the interposition of a coil spring therebetween. Pressure of the member 25 towards the bracket 2| gives rise to a relative movement between the spinning member I and the backing slide 21 causing a pressure to be exerted against the opposite ends of the rivet pressure exerted on the opposite ends of the rivets, a set screw 3|imay be provided on the member 24 which serves to adjust the permissive movement between members 2| and 25 to determine the limit of movement of member II and the end of the rivet distorted thereby with respect to the opposite headed end H of the rivet. Thereby the riveting operation may be executed quickly and without guess work as regards the uniformity of the riveting action.

Other arrangements may be devised to obtain a pressing of the spinning member against the free end of the rivet during the spinning operation, and while I have described-my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it

should be understood that I do not limit my in-' vention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the'spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

Iclaim:

1. A manually portable riveting tool comprising a rotary mandrel for insertion into one end of a hollow rivet disposed in rivet holes of parts to be Joined and having a, slottherein, a member pivoted to said mandrel and resiliently retained in said slot to permit the free passage through the rivet of the mandrel with the member therein, means for rapidly rotating said mandrel to throw outsaid member laterally of the mandrel about the pivot mounting thereof by the resulting centrifugal force, means to retract the mandrel during the rapid rotation thereof and means to retain said first-mentioned end of the hollow rivet against retraction.

2. A manually portable riveting tool comprising traction to expand the opposite end of the hollow rivet beyond the diameter of the rivetholea- 3. A riveting tool comprising a rotary mandrel for insertion-through the head end of a headed hollow rivet disposed in rivet holes of parts to be Joined having a slot extending along one portion of the mandrel longitudinally thereof and a spinning member pivotally mounted therein, spring means abutting said member for resiliently rea rotary mandrel for insertion into the headed taining said member in said slot to permit the free passage of the mandrel with the member therein past the opposite end of the hollow rivet,

I means for rapidly rotating saidmandrel to throw the opposite ends of the rivet towards each other.

-5. .The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a bracket mounted on the means for rotating the mandrel, and a manually operated member pivotally mounted at a midportion thereof on said bracket; one end of said last-mentioned member carrying an apertured seat fitting against the head of the rivet through which passes the rotary mandrel while the opposite end of said member forms. a grip for cooperation with said bracket, whereby relative movement between said bracket and member carries the spinning member towards said seat to press the opposite ends of the rivet towards each other.

6. The combinatidn set forth in claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a bracket mounted on the means for'rotating the mandrel, and a manually operated member pivotally mounted at a midportion thereof on said bracket; one end 01' said last-mentioned member carrying an apertured seat fitting against the head of the rivet through which passes the rotary mandrel while the opposite end of said member forms a rip for cooperation with said bracket, whereby relative movement between said bracket and member carries the spinning member towards said seat to press the opposite ends of the rivet towards each other, a spring between the bracket and grip normally separating them preparatory to manual actuation, and an adjustable limit stop cooperating with the relatively movable members to limit the extent of movement therebetween and the consequent pressure against the opposite ends of the rivet. Y

THEODORE A. REPPER. 

